For many years, Leitz recommended yearly CLA's. In those days, every photo
store had a repairman, and Leitz went out of their way to ensure that these
folks received factory training and literature. The store owners like the
policy, as it brought a good customer back on a regular basis.
Economics changed all this. Camera stores stopped employing repair guys.
Customers no longer wanted a camera which required an annual maintenance.
(This is the same period which saw car oil change intervals go from 3,000
miles to 6,000 miles or more.)
Leitz' response, in part, was to reduce the number of adjustable parts
within the later M cameras. Hence, a lot of those widgets which mandated
the annual service were no longer an issue, and the cameras can go many,
many years between service. Admittedly, when something DOES go bad, it is
now a much more serious issue -- but the cameras are more durable in daily
use.
Marc
msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!